During pregnancy, your body (and your baby) puts some very unusual demands on you nutritionally. I'm not someone who ordinarily takes food supplements but during pregnancy, I'm aware that there are one of two areas of my diet that could do with a helping hand in order to give my baby the best possible chance in life (for instance, I have a diet very low in fish) so during this pregnancy I've done a little research into some of the different pregnancy supplements you can buy, and the benefits they offer.
Nordic Naturals Omega-3 DHA
What they say: DHA is an essential fat for maintaining cellular fluidity and supports memory, cognition, and emotional well-being. These delicious, strawberry-flavoured soft gels are half the size of a standard soft gel, making them easier to swallow.
What Mellow Mummy says: Perfectly fills the fish-oil gap in my diet. The strawberry smell was overwhelming when I first opened the packet but it has calmed down since. Two tablets a day is a bit annoying, but I'd rather that than a gel that than a huge one that got stuck in my throat.
Buy From: Chemists and health stores (find one on the nordicnaturals.com website).
Efalex Mother & Baby
What they say: Efalex mother & Baby is a fish oil supplement specifically designed to replenish essential fatty acids for expectant mums whose stocks are naturally depleted by the demands of the growing baby. During the last three months of pregnancy there is a rapid accumulation of DHA and AA in the eyes and brain cells of the foetus and after birth, breast milk supplies the essential fatty acids that are required for your baby to continue development.
What Mellow Mummy says: Pleasantly fragrance and taste-free (I was expecting the worst from a fish oil gel!). Foil casing means they don't stick together. I can picture myself taking these well beyond birth.
Buy From: Large boots stores for around £8.99.
BetterYou DLUX Pregnancy
What they say: Handy pocket-sized spray with a calming peppermint taste that quickly tops up essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream to ensure none are lots through illness or through digestive transit. Provides vitamin D3 which is believed to reduce the risk of premature labour. Also contains folic acid, B1 and B6 to maintain normal development of the baby's neural tube and nervous system.
What Mellow Mummy says: An oral vitamin spray is certainly different - it means I can keep it in my bag without rattling! You have to take several 'sprays' a day so I distribute them throughout the day. The peppermint taste is STRONG and the feeling of spraying it under the tongue takes a little getting used to but the combination of vitamins it provides is a great starting point.
Buy From: www.betteryou.uk.com from £9.99.
Sanatogen Mother to Be
What they say: Sanatogen Mother To Be is a multivitamin and multimineral food supplement, which provides essential nutrients needed before and during pregnancy, including the recommended daily amount of Folic Acid.
What Mellow Mummy says: A good all-round pregnancy supplement that provides me with most of the things I need during conception, pregnancy and beyond. I think I would be even more tempted by the Sanatogen Mother to Be + Omega-3 version as then I would have no need to take folic acid OR DHA tablets in addition to this.
Buy From: Supermarkets and pharmacies.
Boots Pregnancy Support
What they say: Boots Pharmaceuticals Pregnancy Support (Folic Acid, B Vitamins, Omega 3) is specially formulated to provide many essential nutrients that you need during your pregnancy.
What Mellow Mummy says: An all-in-one pregnancy supplement that provides me with most of the things I am currently missing in my diet. The tablets are pretty huge and uninviting but they are foil wrapped to keep them separate. One of the more expensive supplements I have tried.
Buy From: Boots (in store and online) from £9.19.
Centrum Pregnancy Care
What they say: Developed for women during conception, pregnancy and throughout breast feeding. Centrum have now developed Centrum Pregnancy Care and Pregnancy Care Plus with Omega 3 containing a unique blend of 19 vitamins and minerals including folic acid to support healthy foetal growth and help the baby's bone, brain and eye development.
What Mellow Mummy says: I haven't yet tried the Centrum pregnancy care range but it seems to be an all-round pregnancy supplement that offers vitamins, minerals and, (in the case of the 'Plus Omega 3' version) and additional fish oil gel.
Buy From: Supermarkets and pharmacies from £5.29.
Nordic Naturals Omega-3 DHA
What they say: DHA is an essential fat for maintaining cellular fluidity and supports memory, cognition, and emotional well-being. These delicious, strawberry-flavoured soft gels are half the size of a standard soft gel, making them easier to swallow.
What Mellow Mummy says: Perfectly fills the fish-oil gap in my diet. The strawberry smell was overwhelming when I first opened the packet but it has calmed down since. Two tablets a day is a bit annoying, but I'd rather that than a gel that than a huge one that got stuck in my throat.
Buy From: Chemists and health stores (find one on the nordicnaturals.com website).
Efalex Mother & Baby
What they say: Efalex mother & Baby is a fish oil supplement specifically designed to replenish essential fatty acids for expectant mums whose stocks are naturally depleted by the demands of the growing baby. During the last three months of pregnancy there is a rapid accumulation of DHA and AA in the eyes and brain cells of the foetus and after birth, breast milk supplies the essential fatty acids that are required for your baby to continue development.
What Mellow Mummy says: Pleasantly fragrance and taste-free (I was expecting the worst from a fish oil gel!). Foil casing means they don't stick together. I can picture myself taking these well beyond birth.
Buy From: Large boots stores for around £8.99.
BetterYou DLUX Pregnancy
What they say: Handy pocket-sized spray with a calming peppermint taste that quickly tops up essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream to ensure none are lots through illness or through digestive transit. Provides vitamin D3 which is believed to reduce the risk of premature labour. Also contains folic acid, B1 and B6 to maintain normal development of the baby's neural tube and nervous system.
What Mellow Mummy says: An oral vitamin spray is certainly different - it means I can keep it in my bag without rattling! You have to take several 'sprays' a day so I distribute them throughout the day. The peppermint taste is STRONG and the feeling of spraying it under the tongue takes a little getting used to but the combination of vitamins it provides is a great starting point.
Buy From: www.betteryou.uk.com from £9.99.
Sanatogen Mother to Be
What they say: Sanatogen Mother To Be is a multivitamin and multimineral food supplement, which provides essential nutrients needed before and during pregnancy, including the recommended daily amount of Folic Acid.
What Mellow Mummy says: A good all-round pregnancy supplement that provides me with most of the things I need during conception, pregnancy and beyond. I think I would be even more tempted by the Sanatogen Mother to Be + Omega-3 version as then I would have no need to take folic acid OR DHA tablets in addition to this.
Buy From: Supermarkets and pharmacies.
Boots Pregnancy Support
What they say: Boots Pharmaceuticals Pregnancy Support (Folic Acid, B Vitamins, Omega 3) is specially formulated to provide many essential nutrients that you need during your pregnancy.
What Mellow Mummy says: An all-in-one pregnancy supplement that provides me with most of the things I am currently missing in my diet. The tablets are pretty huge and uninviting but they are foil wrapped to keep them separate. One of the more expensive supplements I have tried.
Buy From: Boots (in store and online) from £9.19.
Centrum Pregnancy Care
What they say: Developed for women during conception, pregnancy and throughout breast feeding. Centrum have now developed Centrum Pregnancy Care and Pregnancy Care Plus with Omega 3 containing a unique blend of 19 vitamins and minerals including folic acid to support healthy foetal growth and help the baby's bone, brain and eye development.
What Mellow Mummy says: I haven't yet tried the Centrum pregnancy care range but it seems to be an all-round pregnancy supplement that offers vitamins, minerals and, (in the case of the 'Plus Omega 3' version) and additional fish oil gel.
Buy From: Supermarkets and pharmacies from £5.29.
